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2024 Guinness Six Nations
[2024 Six Nations] England vs Wales - 10/02/24
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<blockquote data-quote="Grizwald" data-source="post: 1174136" data-attributes="member: 71892"><p>I very much doubt Borthwick will make any unforced changes, Borthwick being Borthwick.</p><p></p><p>Marler got a lot of praise last weekend for lasting 75 mins but his lack of mobility around the park made him look like a passenger at times IMO. Borthwick doesn't seem to set up to have his props do much carrying so it would make sense to allow for that in the systems, particularly in defence. Chessum shot out of the line to blitz on a couple of occasions on his own without the players immediately around him doing the same so left dog legs. It's hard to know if it was Chessum's fault or the others, but I'd say it's safe to assume Felix Jones is attempting to install a blitz defence that worked so well for the Springboks.</p><p></p><p>Lots of praise for CCS who had some good moments, he seems really chilled so it may be a seamless transition to International rugby but he's not first choice at his club in any of the backrow positions. Backrow was a bit imbalanced, Underhill is a different animal when he's on his game but hadn't played for a while or had all that much rugby since the WC. He's not really known for his carrying, I always see him as a hard hitter to stop teams getting over the gain line, maybe put Earl at 7 but not convinced by the available options at 8 in the squad.</p><p></p><p>I'd like to see Freeman possibly move in one position to 13, Slade didn't do anything wrong against Italy and maybe short term could move to 12 and have two wingers with pace, I don't mind Daly but he's lost a yard or two of pace with age to being playing on the wing at this level. It's sods law that Dingwall didn't have a great game, is he a 12? I watched the Munster game and it was Hutchinson at 12 and Dingwall at 13, they're both of similar stature i.e. neither would be classed as 'big'. Most international sides these days to tend to have at least one centre that can bosh it up when required and defend well-it's as much about playing Ford at 10 who doesn't shirk from a tackle but gives up yards.</p><p></p><p>I think Steward should be used as a special teams player based on the conditions. If it's lashing it down and/or a team will predictably kick a lot he's your man otherwise his lack of pace gets exposed more often than not, Freeman is the form FB in the league and can cover 10 and wing mostly needs to be some competition that isn't the WC experiment of Marcus Smith which you're getting with Furbank as he's actually played in all 3 positions for his club. From memory Wales kicked a lot last year in the 6N and not well and Steward just lapped it up. My fear is Gatland realises this current iteration of Wales can't kick the ball the away and play without the ball like Wales teams of old. If they come out an play heads up rugby England looked very narrow against Italy at times on Saturday.</p><p></p><p>Having said all that Borthwick won't change anything unless he has to......</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Grizwald, post: 1174136, member: 71892"] I very much doubt Borthwick will make any unforced changes, Borthwick being Borthwick. Marler got a lot of praise last weekend for lasting 75 mins but his lack of mobility around the park made him look like a passenger at times IMO. Borthwick doesn't seem to set up to have his props do much carrying so it would make sense to allow for that in the systems, particularly in defence. Chessum shot out of the line to blitz on a couple of occasions on his own without the players immediately around him doing the same so left dog legs. It's hard to know if it was Chessum's fault or the others, but I'd say it's safe to assume Felix Jones is attempting to install a blitz defence that worked so well for the Springboks. Lots of praise for CCS who had some good moments, he seems really chilled so it may be a seamless transition to International rugby but he's not first choice at his club in any of the backrow positions. Backrow was a bit imbalanced, Underhill is a different animal when he's on his game but hadn't played for a while or had all that much rugby since the WC. He's not really known for his carrying, I always see him as a hard hitter to stop teams getting over the gain line, maybe put Earl at 7 but not convinced by the available options at 8 in the squad. I'd like to see Freeman possibly move in one position to 13, Slade didn't do anything wrong against Italy and maybe short term could move to 12 and have two wingers with pace, I don't mind Daly but he's lost a yard or two of pace with age to being playing on the wing at this level. It's sods law that Dingwall didn't have a great game, is he a 12? I watched the Munster game and it was Hutchinson at 12 and Dingwall at 13, they're both of similar stature i.e. neither would be classed as 'big'. Most international sides these days to tend to have at least one centre that can bosh it up when required and defend well-it's as much about playing Ford at 10 who doesn't shirk from a tackle but gives up yards. I think Steward should be used as a special teams player based on the conditions. If it's lashing it down and/or a team will predictably kick a lot he's your man otherwise his lack of pace gets exposed more often than not, Freeman is the form FB in the league and can cover 10 and wing mostly needs to be some competition that isn't the WC experiment of Marcus Smith which you're getting with Furbank as he's actually played in all 3 positions for his club. From memory Wales kicked a lot last year in the 6N and not well and Steward just lapped it up. My fear is Gatland realises this current iteration of Wales can't kick the ball the away and play without the ball like Wales teams of old. If they come out an play heads up rugby England looked very narrow against Italy at times on Saturday. Having said all that Borthwick won't change anything unless he has to...... [/QUOTE]
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2024 Guinness Six Nations
[2024 Six Nations] England vs Wales - 10/02/24
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